Ladybugs and Helgramites

Scott, Joshua and I spent the weekend at my dad's farmhouse on the Clinch River. The house is up in the mountains with no phone, no tv, can't get a radio station or a cell. All you have to do is walk through the front yard and down the hill and you are right on the river. Across the river is a railroad and the coal trains run all day and all night. The house even comes with an old dog, Wilma, that actually belongs to the neighbor but is often found sleeping on the back porch or under the front porch. It ain't nuttin' fancy but it's perfect for what it is...a place to eat, sleep and go to the bathroom when you are taking a break from fishing. It remains closed up when no one is visiting for the weekend.

This particular weekend at this particular time of year, the farmhouse was a haven for ladybugs. I don't know much about ladybugs except that you are supposed to have good luck if one lands on you...and that on a cool April weekend if you turn on the heat and lights in an old farmhouse they seem to appear out of nowhere by the hundreds. It wasn't too bad though...ladybugs don't bite or sting, they aren't nasty buggers like roaches, they aren't as scary as snakes, mice or spiders. So, when you think of the alternative creatures that could have been inhabiting the house, I'd say we were lucky. So yea, I think ladybugs are lucky.

Saturday was the most perfect day. We woke up early, ate breakfast, and headed straight for the river. Fishing was a little slow that morning because it was rather cold. We took a break and went for a drive to see my dad's old stomping grounds and went for a nice little walk. By the time we got back, it had warmed up a bit and the fishing was terrific. We...umm, I mean, I was catching them as quick as I put my line in the water. Now, I can bait a hook with a worm but I can not take a fish off a hook. I have to say I kept both my dad and Scott busy taking the fish off the hook. So much so that my dad gave up trying to fish and just kept close to me. We mostly caught redeyes, one large mouth and several small mouth bass and something my dad called a horny head that had horns on it's head. We all let Joshua reel in fish and he had a terrific time fighting with them. We fished until it was dark enough to have a fire and roast hotdogs and marshmallows. Scott stayed down on the river trying to do a little catfishing but didn't catch any. Sunday morning, we got up, had breakfast, and hit the river again. And, once again, pulled them out as quick as we could put the line in.

Now, the bait of choice for these Clinch River fish is what I've always known as grampus. I just learned this weekend that their official name is helgramite. They are ugly and have big pinchers and I also found out that they eventually grow wings and fly. Joshua loved the helgermites. He and papa went hunting for them and Joshua turned over rocks and picked them up all by himself. He came back and instructed me on how to pick them up...yea, I wasn't touching one of those things...Anyway, they are a tough bait and you can fish on one about all day long.

So, at 5 years old, Joshua can catch bait and can reel in fish. He just needs to be a little older so he can bait his own hook and cast. Oh yea, and take all the fish that I catch off my hook for me...